#femerfriday

[artatheartist]

It's Femër Friday! This week's focus is on Nora e Kelmendit 👐🇦🇱👐 • Nora was a 17th century Albanian woman from the Kelmendi tribe in Northern Albania. Born in 1684, not much is known about her early life as she has become a legendary figure over time and a symbol for Albanian ferocity in the face of adversity. • Referred to as the “Helen of Albania,” legend has it that Nora’s beauty was so renowned it caused a war between Ottoman forces and the Albanian Highlanders. • Having seen Nora’s beauty for himself, Vutsi Pasha set out to marry her. The proposal was refused by Nora’s father, and the Pasha, incensed, lay siege to Malësia. • Nora, calculating and ruthless in her patriotism, seemingly accepted the Pasha’s proposal and after presenting herself to him in her bridal finery (in this case, a “xhublete,” the traditional clothing of that area), stabbed the Pasha and fled. • Having survived his wounds, the Pasha and a regimen of Ottoman soldiers set out after Nora, only to be met by 300 fierce Kelmendi warriors. The battle ensued, and Nora, meeting the Pasha on the battlefield, finally put an end to her would-be-suitor. • There are countless paintings of Nora slaying the Pasha, and ballads are sung, praising her beauty as well as her intellect. Nora e Kelmendit lives on as a symbol of patriotic pride and feminine strength. • Albanian Playing Cards available on my website, www.artatheartist.com • • • #artatheartist #albanian #art #noraekelmendit #femerfriday #xhubleta #albanianheroes #albanianheroines #albania #womenshistorymonth #albanianplayingcards #queenofspades #queenofswords #albanianlegends #albanianwomen #albanianart #albanianartist https://www.instagram.com/p/Cp5RrFkO1KO/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

[artatheartist]

Qerime Radisheva aka Shote Galica was born in Drenica, Kosova, on November 10th, 1895. She was the only sister of 6 brothers (how’s that for a çike hasretit? 😏) • She is one of the most prominent Albanian figures, gaining fame for her ferocity in battle as well as her wisdom. She is credited with saying, “Jeta pa dije është si një luftë pa armë” (Life without knowledge is like a war without weapons). • At 20 years old, she married Azem Galica and in 1919, at the age of 26, she and her husband joined the Albanian uprising and fought Yugoslav forces in Junik. • After Azem’s death in 1925, she took control of his band of kaçaks (soldiers) and fought with Bajram Curri (shoutout to my Tropojane mom’s side of the family 😆) in Prizren (Kosova) and Lumë (Albania). • She eventually moved to Fushë-Krujë in Albania and in 1927, and at the age of 31, died. • She was posthumously awarded the title Heroinë e Popullit (“Heroine of the People”) in Albania. • Her legacy lives on, in songs, novels, legends, and even imagery. Her plis and braid have become synonymous with femine strength amongst Albanian people and is often replicated as a nod to Shote.   • • • #artatheartist #albanian #art #womenshistorymonth #femerfriday #shotegalica #albania #kosova #plis #albanianartist #albanianart #albanianplayingcards #folkart https://www.instagram.com/p/Cp0BlXDuNyA/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

[artatheartist]

Femër Friday!

This week’s focus is on the Illyrian Queen, Teuta

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After the death of her husband, Agron in 231 BC, Teuta assumed regency and made quite a name for herself. Proving a force to be reckoned with, she quickly garnered a reputation as a pirate queen; ordering raids on neighboring states and continuing a tradition of piracy on the Illyrian coast (the Balkan Peninsula).

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This eventually grabbed the attention of the larger, more powerful Roman Empire as it directly affected their shipping and trade routes across the Adriatic Ocean and Ionian Sea. After meeting with Roman officials and settling this dispute, Teuta reportedly had one of them murdered for insulting her and the other imprisoned.

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As a result, in 229 BC, Rome declared war on Illyria and Teuta was later betrayed by her governor to the Romans.

She eventually signed a treaty with Rome in 228 BC and reigned over a small region north of modern-day Lezhë

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Unfortunately, there are only a few written accounts of Teuta from that time, most of which are blatantly colored by misogyny and Roman nationalism. Reading between these lines, however, one thing remains clear, historically there were a handful of women that openly challenged the Roman Empire and Teuta was one of them (Boudica the Celtic Queen is another fascinating person worth reading up on).

It takes a powerful person to leave a great enough impression on their enemy that they are written about and remembered, millennia later.

[artatheartist]

Marigo Poçi Posio was born in 1882 in Korçë, Albania. She is credited with embroidering the flag that was raised by Ismail Qemali during Albania’s Declaration of Independence on November 28th, 1912. • Marigo and her husband Jovan were active members of various Albanian Independence movements like Rilindja and the Labëria Patriotic Club, utilizing their home as ground zero for meetings. • In 1921, she published a newspaper, “Shpresa Shqiptare” (Albanian Hope) and was involved in multiple educational endeavors. She passed away from tuberculosis in 1932. • She is considered one of the most prominent female figures in Albanian history, not only for being the "mother" of the Albanian flag, but also for her leadership in Albanian women's organizations and endeavors. • Albanian Playing Cards available on my website, www.ArtaTheArtist.com • • • #ArtaTheArtist #womenshistorymonth #Albanian #albanianwomen #femerfriday #albanianplayingcards #marigona #albanianartist #albanianart https://www.instagram.com/p/Cp22PSYrwRl/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

[artatheartist]

In Honor of International Woman's History Month, I'm bringing back my "Femër Friday" series, where each week I focus on an historic Albanian female figure.

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This week's focus is on Musine Kokalari, one of the 1st published female Albanian writers & political dissident whose staunch anti-communist views & free speech advocacy led to her imprisonment.

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Musine Kokalari was born on February 10th, 1917, in Adana, Turkey. Originally from Gjirokastër, her family returned to their hometown when Musine was 3 years old. Having been raised in an educated family (her grandfather studied theology and philosophy, while her father studied law), Musine and her 3 older brothers also followed in their footsteps by making names for themselves in the literary field; owning the bookstore “Venus” in Tirana, as well as the publishing house, “Mesagjeritë Shqiptare” (Albanian Messengers), which published works from international writers like Vicente Blasco Ibáñez, Omar Khayyam, Edgar Allen Poe, Walter Scott, and Shakespeare.

After graduating in 1937, she began publishing articles under the pseudonym “Muza” (Muse), in the newspaper “Shtypi” (The Press). The following year she moved to Rome to continue her studies, and in 1939 she published her first novel, “Siç Me Thotë Nënua Plakë” (As My Old Mother Used to Tell Me), which was eventually published in Tirana in 1941. This garnered the interest of other Albanian influential writers who served to influence her writing.

In 1943 Musine co-founded the magazine “Shqiptarja e Re” (The New Albanian Woman), which served as the first outlet for Albanian women to share their stories. She went on to publish several her own works the following year, including a collection of short stories titled “Sa u tunt jeta” (How Life Swayed), and “Rreth Vatrës” (Around the Hearth).

This was around the same time that she opened a bookstore and became a member of the “Lidhja e Shkrimtarëve dhe Artistëve të Shqipërisë” (Albanian League of Writers and Artists), a non-profit organization that was founded in 1945 with the goal of promoting and advancing the literary and artistic creativity of talented Albanians.

Musine continued to speak openly against the communists, calling for free elections and freedom of expression, which resulted in her arrest on January 17th, 1946. At her trial, wearing mourning clothes in memory of her executed brothers, she gave an impassioned speech where she stated her love for Albania and the fact that she was being punished for her ideals and speaking out against the government. She was sentenced to 20 years imprisonment and labeled a saboteur and enemy of the people.

She served 18 years in prison and in 1964 was relocated to an internment camp in Rrëshen, Northern Albania where she spent the rest of her remaining 19 years of life, working as a manual laborer. Although forbidden to publish any more work, Musine continued to write in secret, and passed away on August 14th, 1983, after being denied cancer treatment by the communist government.

She was posthumously declared a “Martyr of Democracy” by the President of Albania, Sali Berisha, in 1993. Her memory and achievements serve as a fierce example of resilience in the face of tyranny, not just for Albanian women, but for all people experiencing oppression from their government.

Then, on November 12, 1944, tragedy struck when Musine’s brothers were executed without trial by the communist government. She was very outspoken in her demands for justice and retribution.

[artatheartist]

Femër Friday! This week’s focus is on the #Illyrian Queen, #Teuta • After the death of her husband, #Agron in 231 BC, Teuta assumed regency and made quite a name for herself. Proving a force to be reckoned with, she quickly garnered a reputation as a pirate queen; ordering raids on neighboring states and continuing a tradition of piracy on the coast. • This eventually grabbed the attention of the larger, more powerful Roman Empire as it directly affected their shipping and trade routes across the #Adriatic Ocean and Ionian Sea. After meeting with Roman officials and settling this dispute, Teuta reportedly had one of them murdered for insulting her and the other imprisoned (so much for not shooting the messenger 🤷‍♀️). • Unfortunately, there are only a few written accounts of Teuta from that time, most of which are blatantly colored by #misogyny and Roman nationalism. Reading between these lines, however, one thing remains clear, historically there were a handful of women that openly challenged the Roman Empire and Teuta was one of them (#Boudica the Celtic Queen is another fascinating person worth reading up on). It takes a powerful person to leave a great enough impression on their enemy that they are written about and remembered, millennia later. • • • #artatheartist #albanian #art #femer #femerfriday #fisnike #ardiaei #autochthonous #albanianheroes #albanianheroines #albania #womenshistorymonth #drawing #sketch #illustration #playingcards #albanianplayingcards #albanianqueen #queenofdiamonds #queenofpentacles #albanianlegends #lineart #linedrawing #blackandwhiteart https://www.instagram.com/p/CMnHP2zF6_k/?igshid=14mbo4dvn0xr4

[artatheartist]

I’m starting something new: Femër Friday! • Each Friday I will highlight an heroic/legendary/influential Albanian woman. • This week’s focus is on Nora e Kelmendit: • Nora was a 17th century Albanian woman from the Kelmendi tribe in Northern Albania. Not much is known about her actual life as she has become a legendary figure and a symbol for Albanian ferocity in the face of adversity. • Referred to as the “Helen of Albania,” legend has it that Nora’s beauty was so renowned it caused a war between Ottoman forces and the Albanian Highlanders. • Having seen Nora’s beauty for himself, Vutsi Pasha set out to marry her. The proposal was refused by Nora’s father, and the Pasha, incensed, lay siege to Malesia. • Nora, calculating and ruthless in her patriotism, seemingly accepted the Pasha’s proposal and after presenting herself to him in her bridal finery (in this case, a “xhublete,” the traditional clothing of that area), stabbed the Pasha and fled. • Having survived his wounds, Vutsi Pasha and a regimen of Ottoman soldiers set out after Nora, only to be met by 300 fierce Kelmendi warriors. The battle ensued and Nora, meeting the Pasha on the battlefield, finally put an end to her would-be-suitor. • As I mentioned earlier, the true story has been lost in time and only the legend remains. There are countless paintings of Nora slaying the Pasha and ballads are sung praising her beauty as well as her intellect. Nora e Kelmendit lives on as a symbol of patriotic pride and feminine strength. • • • #artatheartist #albanian #art #noraekelmendit #femer #femerfriday #fisnike #kelmend #malesia #xhubleta #autochthonous #albanianheroes #albanianheroines #albania #womenshistorymonth #drawing #sketch #illustration #playingcards #albanianplayingcards #queenofspades #queenofswords #albanianlegends (at Kelmendi) https://www.instagram.com/p/CMWHhCuFRc8/?igshid=1rcw2a4claxn